Melbourne sports lawyer assesses Sam Murray’s case

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Sam Murray of the Magpies looks upfield during the round five AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Essendon Bombvers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

Collingwood’s Sam Murray is “up against it” to receive a discount on the potential four-year ban that could be heading his way from ASADA.

Murray tested positive on the day of the Pies’ clash with Richmond in Round 19, and was believed to have had traces of cocaine still in his system at the time of the test.

Given the positive reading was on game day, ASADA categorises the drug as performance enhancing, which could see Murray hit with a ban of up to four years.

Paul Horvath, one of Melbourne’s prominent sports lawyers, believes Murray’s case is similar to that of former rugby union star Wendell Sailor, who copped a full ban back in 2006.

“As a general comment I would say this kid is up against it. Whatever your sympathies are, my comment is not about sympathies, it’s about the law,’’ Horvath told the Herald Sun.

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“It is a harsh system and they are unapologetic about the system being harsh.

“It is pretty serious and makes it difficult to seek a reduction. Without knowing all the facts, in normal circumstances it is difficult to seek a reduction for taking a stimulant like cocaine on match day

“Remember Wendell Sailor, he had cocaine from taking it three or four days before his match, clearly not related to being in a match.